Wenger backs 'natural leader' Wilshere to be England's next Bobby Moore

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has compared his club's player Jack Wilshere to late England legend Bobby Moore and former French football star Zinedine Zidane and claimed that Wilshere can be a natural leader for England.

The 21-year-old Wilshere came under the spotlight after England's lacklustre draw in Ukraine although Wenger is not worried that by accusations that his midfielder is being over hyped.

According to the Mirror, Wenger defended his player against the accusations, saying that Wilshere is a 'fantastic' player who can lead England to the 2014 World Cup finals.

Stating that Wilshere has the capacity to take the mantle on from England's 1966 World Cup winning captain Moore, the Frenchman also said that Wilshere can be the focal point for England like Zidane and Michel Platini were for France, adding that national teams need a player who can absorbs a high-level of pressure and take it in his stride.

According to Wenger, being young, Wilshere has the required characteristics to follow Moore's footsteps as he is not inhibited or overwhelmed by the importance of the game, although he added that Wilshere needs to play six months without any problem given that in modern football, a player needs to be completely fit to express his talent.

Admitting that Wilshere is not completely at his best physically, Wenger claimed that that is why his performances are being criticised, adding that national teams can be suffocated under the levels of expectation put on a single player.

But Wenger insisted that people should stop questioning Wilshere's ability and just accept that it was an off-night for him in Ukraine.